Freshman Sensation Caleb Wilson Earns ACC Co-Player and Co-Rookie of the Week Honors After Blazing Start
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced its weekly men’s basketball awards on Monday, and one name dominated the headlines: Caleb Wilson. In a rare and spectacular feat, the University of North Carolina forward swept the honors, being named both the ACC Co-Player of the Week and the ACC Co-Rookie of the Week, cementing his status as the nation’s most electrifying new talent.
The dual accolade comes on the heels of a transcendent two-game stretch that saw Wilson not just meet the sky-high expectations placed upon him but utterly shatter them. The 6’10” phenom from Atlanta averaged a staggering 28.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks while shooting a blistering 68% from the field, propelling the Tar Heels to a pair of decisive conference victories.
“It’s a blessing, for sure,” Wilson said in a post-announcement press conference, the two awards sitting on the table before him. “But honestly, this is about my teammates and coaches. They put me in positions to succeed, and I’m just trying to play hard and help us win games. Seeing the work pay off feels good.”
Wilson’s coming-out party reached its zenith in last Saturday’s marquee matchup against a top-15 Miami squad. In a nationally televised showdown, the freshman was simply unguardable, pouring in a career-high 37 points on 15-of-20 shooting. He added 14 rebounds, displaying a combination of feathery touch around the rim, a lethal mid-range jumper, and a ferociousness on the glass that belied his age.
Perhaps most impressively, with the Tar Heels clinging to a narrow lead in the final four minutes, Wilson scored nine consecutive points, including a thunderous put-back dunk over two defenders that brought the Dean E. Smith Center crowd to a fever pitch and effectively sealed the victory.
“What you’re seeing with Caleb is special, and it’s not by accident,” said UNC head coach, David Roberts. “His work ethic is unmatched. He’s the first in the gym and the last to leave. But beyond the stats, what stands out is his poise. The moment is never too big for him. For a freshman to have that level of composure in crunch time of an ACC game… that’s just rare.”
His Co-Player of the Week honor, which he shares with Virginia’s veteran guard Marcus Thomas, is particularly notable. It marks the first time a freshman has earned a share of the ACC’s top weekly player award since Marvin Bagley III did so in the 2017-18 season, placing Wilson in elite company from his very first week of conference play.
The basketball world is taking notice. Social media has been ablaze with highlights of Wilson’s dominant performances, and prominent NBA draft analysts have already projected him as a potential top-three pick in the upcoming draft, should he choose to declare.
“He’s a unicorn in the modern game,” said ESPN analyst and former coach Jay Bilas. “He has the size and length to protect the rim and rebound at a high level, but he also has the ball-handling and shooting touch of a guard. The way he runs the floor in transition is breathtaking. Carolina has a player who can single-handedly change the ceiling of their team.”
For his teammates, the rapid ascent is no surprise. Senior point guard and team captain, Michael Jones, has witnessed Wilson’s dedication firsthand.
“We see it every day in practice,” Jones said. “The kid is a dog. He competes on every possession. He asks questions, he listens, and he wants to be great. When he had that 37-point game, none of us on the bench were shocked. We’ve been waiting for the world to see what we see.”
The accolades, while celebrated, are being viewed within the program as merely a starting point. Coach Roberts was quick to temper the soaring expectations, emphasizing the long season ahead.
“We’re happy for Caleb, and he deserves this recognition,” Roberts stated. “But our focus, and his focus, remains on the next practice, the next game. The ACC is a grind, and there are no nights off. This is a great step, but it’s just one step.”
As the Tar Heels prepare for a tough road test against a physical Syracuse zone defense this Wednesday, all eyes will be on the freshman sensation to see if he can continue his historic start. For Caleb Wilson, the spotlight is now permanently fixed, and if this week is any indication, he is more than ready for its glare.
Leave a Reply